Why PCOS Patients and Family Members Should Attend

Why Healthcare Professionals
Should Attend

Target Audience

The PCOS Awareness Symposium is the largest event globally dedicated to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. The symposium brings together clinicians, researchers, hundreds of women with PCOS and their supporters for a day of sharing experiences, insights and the latest updates about the condition.

PCOS Symposium Goals

For Patients — The PCOS symposium will help women and girls affected by PCOS become proactive about their health and discover strategies and resources to help overcome their symptoms and reduce their risk for life-threatening related diseases.

For Scientific, Medical and Healthcare Professionals — The PCOS symposium will help improve competence in the field of PCOS and address seven identified education and practice gaps. The PCOS symposium will also help improve performance relating to quality of care for women and adolescents with PCOS and patient outcomes.

Presentations Will Cover:

PCOS Nutrition, Exercise and Lifestyle Management

Improving Fertility in Women with PCOS

Preventing Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes and Other Complications in Women with PCOS

Creating a PCOS Treatment Plan

Integrative Care Approaches to PCOS

Managing the Psychological Impacts of PCOS

Hair and Skin Treatment Options for Women with PCOS

PCOS in Adolescents: Early Diagnosis and Intervention

PCOS Awareness and Advocacy

And more

The PCOS Awareness Symposium Changes Lives

Meet Some of Our PCOS Symposium Featured Speakers

Get Answers from Some of the Country’s Leading PCOS Experts

Sasha Ottey, MHA, MT (ASCP)

Executive Director, PCOS Challenge, Inc.

Executive Producer, PCOS Challenge Television Series

Host and Producer, PCOS Challenge Radio Show

Sasha Ottey is Founder and Executive Director of PCOS Challenge, Inc., one of the world’s leading support and patient advocacy organizations advancing the cause for women and girls with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Since its programs started in 2009, PCOS Challenge has quickly grown to 38,000 members and has helped many women find answers that have helped them overcome their struggles with infertility, weight gain, anxiety and depression and reduce their risk for life-threatening related conditions. Sasha is a Clinical and Research Microbiologist. Sasha is Executive Producer of the national award winning cable television series, PCOS Challenge®. She is also host of the PCOS Challenge radio show and publisher of the PCOS Challenge digital magazine.

Katherine Sherif, MD

Director, Jefferson Women’s Primary Care

Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Medicine

Thomas Jefferson University

Topic: Preventing Diabetes andCardiovascular Disease in PCOS

Dr. Sherif is a leading expert on PCOS. As an internist in the 90’s, she was studying insulin resistance when she discovered a special group of women with exaggerated insulin resistance: women with polycystic ovary syndrome. She started prescribing insulin sensitizers in the 90’s based upon the work of Italian clinical investigators. In 2000, she co-founded the first academic center for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with Dr. Shahab Minassian. Dr. Sherif is also a top speaker and a writer in a number of areas including menopause, hormone replacement therapy, omega-3 fatty acids, and heart disease in women. She is author of Women’s Health in Clinical Practice: A Handbook for Primary Care and Hormone Therapy: A Clinical Handbook.

Mark Perloe, MD

Medical Director, Georgia Reproductive Specialists

Topic: Improving Fertility in Women with PCOS

Dr. Perloe has extensive experience in in vitro fertilization and treating conditions related to infertility including polycystic ovary syndrome, recurrent pregnancy loss, menstrual disorders, fibroids, endocrine and other reproductive health problems. Dr. Perloe has served as principal investigator in numerous reproductive health research studies including innovative IVF treatments, ovulation induction, and polycystic ovary syndrome. He has published research in medical journals including Obstetrics & Gynecology, Southern Medical Journal, Human Reproduction and the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Perloe is the co-author of Miracle Babies and Other Happy Endings for Couples with Fertility Problems and is the creator of IVF.com.

Angela Grassi, MS, RD, LDN

Founder, PCOS Nutrition Center

Angela is an internationally recognized nutrition and health expert on PCOS. She was recently named one of the Top 10 incredible RDs making a difference by Today’s Dietitian. She is the author of The Dietitian’s Guide to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, The PCOS Workbook and The PCOS Nutrition Center Cookbook. Angela is the owner of PCOS Nutrition Center where she provides nutrition counseling to women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Having PCOS herself, Angela is dedicated to advocacy, education and research of PCOS.

Fiona McCulloch, ND

Founder, White Lotus Naturopathic Clinic

Topic: Lean PCOS – Advice Beyond Weight Loss

Dr. Fiona is one of the leading naturopathic physicians specializing in PCOS. She has been in naturopathic practice since 2001, after graduating from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and the University of Guelph (Biological Science). In 2002, Dr. Fiona founded White Lotus Naturopathic Clinic and Integrated Health. She author of 8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS and is the Naturopathic Doctor advisor to IVF.ca, Canada’s premier online fertility community. Her research based blog is featured by the American College for Advancement in Medicine. Her articles on the naturopathic treatment of autoimmune infertility and luteal phase defect were published in NDNR, one of the leading journals for naturopathic doctors and she has presented to other health care professionals on evidence-based acupuncture and fertility treatment. In the media, Dr. Fiona was featured in an hour long special on natural fertility on Wylde on Health, has appeared on A Channel News, a CBC Documentary, and has been interviewed by FLARE and Wish magazines.

Elizabeth Board, MD, DABA, IFMCP

Founder, Atlanta Functional Medicine

Topic: The PCOS Puzzle – An Integrative Approach to Putting the Pieces Together

Dr. Board is founder of Atlanta Functional Medicine in Alpharetta, Georgia. She is one of only three Medical Doctors in Georgia board certified by the Institute for Functional Medicine. Dr. Board is a highly qualified physician who has experience treating women with PCOS and extensive training in both mainstream and alternative medical disciplines including Functional Medicine, Pain Management, Medical Acupuncture and Anesthesiology. She is also Neuro- Endo-Immune Certified. As a Functional Medicine Practitioner, Dr. Board combines traditional medicine with scientifically relevant alternative therapies in a holistic approach to address the underlying root causes of disease, rather than masking the symptoms of a condition, to help patients achieve optimal health.

Felice L. Gersh, MD

Medical Director, Integrative Medical Group of Irvine

Dr. Gersh is an expert on PCOS and is one of only a small number of fellowship trained integrative gynecologists in the U.S. Dr. Gersh has developed comprehensive programs to treat PCOS, fibroids, endometriosis, menstrual disorders, vaginitis, bladder disorders, pelvic pain, vulvodynia and vulvar diseases, infertility and menopause. She integrates natural and holistic medicine with state of the art functional and allopathic medical treatments to help women maintain and regain their health. Dr. Gersh has a B.A. from Princeton University and a Medical Degree from the University of Southern California School of Medicine where she graduated in the top 5% of her class and as the #1 woman graduate.

Daria Lizneva, MD, PhD

Physician Scientist, Augusta State University

Topic: PCOS Research Updates

Dr. Lizneva currently serves as faculty at Augusta State University. Her primary area of research focuses on PCOS and androgen-related disorders in women. She founded and directed the Center for Androgen-Related Disorders, which specializes in providing interdisciplinary care to PCOS patients. She is co-author of the National Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Dr. Lizneva’s work in reproductive endocrinology and PCOS has been featured in numerous professional and international scientific publications and major trade media. She is the primary author and editor of the book, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Modern Concepts of Diagnosis and Treatment. Dr. Lizneva is also the author of five original postgraduate workshops on PCOS, endometriosis, evidence-based medicine, recurrent pregnancy loss, and aesthetic aspects of hormonal therapy – spanning a woman’s reproductive life and menopause.

Judette Louis MD, MPH

Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine

University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital

Topic: Healthy Moms, Healthy Baby: Maternal-Fetal Health in PCOS

Dr. Louis is the Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at both the University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital. She also serves as the Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship Director at University of South Florida (USF). She has been an investigator on studies funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the NIH. She is nationally as an expert in maternal morbidity and mortality. In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Louis has led statewide initiatives through her work as a Clinical Leader in the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative. She has numerous scientific publications with a research focus on obesity and sleep disorders and the associated pregnancy morbidity. She has been an investigator on studies funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, private foundations and NIH. She is nationally recognized as an expert in maternal morbidity and mortality.

Ambika P. Ashraf, MD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Children’s of Alabama

Topic: Managing PCOS at a Young Age – Advice for Teens, Young Adults and Their Parents

Dr. Ambika Ashraf is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics/Pediatric Endocrinology at Children’s Hospital, University of Alabama at Birmingham. After her medical school in India, Dr. Ashraf completed pediatric residency and pediatric endocrinology fellowship at the Children’s hospital, University of Alabama. She is board certified in Pediatrics, Pediatric Endocrinology, and, Clinical Lipidology. Dr. Ashraf has a strong clinical interest in adolescents with PCOS. Dr. Ashraf’s is involved in multiple research projects on insulin resistance, obesity, PCOS, diabetes, lipid disorders and metabolic bone disorders.

Mary Spivey-Just, CPE

Delegate, American Electrology Association

Topic: Electrolysis Hair Removal for Women with PCOS

Mary Spivey-Just is an electrologist in Charleston, South Carolina and delegate for the American Electrology Association (AEA), the largest international professional membership organization for practitioners of electrolysis. She is a member of the AEA Advertising and Publications Committee. Mary is a 2015 AEA Gold Probe Recipient. Mary graduated from the Electrology Institute of New England in Tewksbery, Massachusetts and holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting from the University of South Carolina. Mary has transitioned from corporate accounting to become a proud and productive electrologist. Working with PCOS clients on a regular basis has allowed her to hear their stories, discuss their desires and perform treatments to assist them in eradicating unwanted hair. She endeavors to empower clients with information to make informed decisions. Mary’s motto is Educate, Educate and Educate.

Linda Kondilis, PhD

Psychologist, The Highland Psych Collaborative

Topic: Emotional Wellness in PCOS

Linda Kondilis is an Atlanta based licensed psychologist who is passionate about the intersection of mental and reproductive health. In her practice, she provides counseling in reproductive health and psychological assessment for family building. As an educational speaker, she has been a guest lecturer at the leading reproductive centers in the Atlanta area, including Emory University Hospitals. She is a consultant for her knowledge in best mental health practices within reproductive centers. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University and completed her internship training at SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Maria Horstmann, MBA, CPT, PNL1, IRC

Founder, Be Fab – Be You LLC

Maria Horstmann is a Health and Insulin Resistance Coach, a Personal Trainer, and a Corporate Wellness Consultant. She left the corporate world to start Be Fab – Be You LLC to follow her passion to empower others to get their lives back by identifying what is on their way while taking sustainable and holistic health steps. Maria spent most of her life compromising her health until she realized her ticket to reaching full potential in life was a “healthy lifestyle.” She turned her lifestyle 180º; overcame pre-diabetes and chronic digestive and gastrointestinal. Maria creates personalized experiences and programs for single clients, groups, and organizations. Her programs, including a Blood Sugar Balancing Program, help people struggling with weight, fatigue, brain fog, blood sugar and hormonal imbalances, digestion, depression and more.

Amy Medling, CHC

Founder, PCOS Diva

Topic: PCOS Diva/PCOS Challenge Confidence Grant

Amy Medling is the founder of PCOSDiva.com, an online resource dedicated to helping women understand and manage the symptoms associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). She studied holistic nutrition at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and is a Certified Health Coach. Diagnosed with PCOS 13 years ago, Amy thought she found relief when her doctor prescribed Metformin and the birth control pill. Instead of relief, she felt trapped inside a body that rejected these artificial treatments. This is when her Diva journey began. She moved from a “why me?” self-pity state to a place of empowerment that ultimately led her to becoming a “PCOS Diva.” Amy’s goal is to coach other women with PCOS, to find a body, mind and spirit balance that will have them proclaiming, “I’m a PCOS Diva too!”

Sonya Satveit

CEO and Founder, Open Source Health, Inc.

Creator, Hormone Soup

Sonya Satveit is the CEO And Founder of Open Source Health, the first Precision Medicine Platform for Women’s Health. Sonya’s passion and commitment to help other women become empowered inspired her to bring together a global team of experts in science, healthcare and technology to create a revolution in women’s health. She founded Open Source Health to develop a new kind of healthcare specifically designed for women’s unique healthcare needs. The platform is called myAva. Working with her team to architect the convergence of precision medicine combined with integrative medicine, Sonya is creating a healthcare platform that combines genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, the micro-biome and biometrics with preventive medicine to help women achieve optimal health at all stages. myAva’s initial focus is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which Sonya believes to be the most underserved of all women’s health conditions.

Sara M. Clay, Esq.

Founder, Sara M. Clay, P.C.

Founder, Tomorrow’s Parents International, LLC

Sara has been practicing law in Georgia for over twenty three years. She has served as a specialist in Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Law for over the past decade. Additionally, Sara Clay founded Tomorrow’s Parents International, LLC a Georgia based surrogacy agency that locates and matches prospective parents and surrogates. Since establishing her current practice in 2003, Sara has become a recognizable name in the arena of Assisted Reproductive Technology Law. She has served on national and statewide legal forums and committees, and speaks regularly as a guest lecturer at national and statewide conferences. Furthermore, Sara has testified before Senate Subcommittees regarding pending legislation, and has co-authored the legislation known as the Georgia Option of Adoption of Embryos Code.

Ashley Levinson

PCOS Advocate

For over 15 years Ashley Levinson has been advocating for better education and awareness for women and girls with PCOS including working with; PCOSA, PCOStrategies, PCOSAA, Project PCOS and Drexel PCOS Center. She has also increased public awareness through national media campaigns including her story featured on Mystery Diagnosis for Discovery Health Channel. Her current venture is as founder of The PCOS #LemonFaceChallenge a viral campaign aimed at raising public awareness of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Shelby Eckard

PCOS Advocate and Support Group Leader, PCOS Positivity

Shelby is a mother of two living in the burbs of Atlanta who spends her free time trying to get over her break up with carbs, (I miss you, Pizza Joe. Call me.) making it through the hours between coffee and wine, pretending to be cool on Instagram and Facebook, and fighting the good fight in her head between “I wanna look good naked” and “I eat cake in bed.” She blogs at SurvivingShelby.com and covers topics such as positive body image, PCOS, eating disorder recovery and humor. Really, just a woman trying to get her sh*t together.

Keshena Patterson

PCOS Advocate and Author

Keshena has been through the emotional journey of polycystic ovary syndrome. Living trapped in a body with her hormones out of whack is an experience she would never wish on anyone, but it taught her something important too: To keep her head up, to keep positive, and to stay spiritual as she surpassed her goals and turned her life around more than she ever thought could be possible. Keshena now shares her trials and successes with others to help them overcome the burdens of PCOS. She is author of I Kept My Smile, From A Girl To A Woman with PCOS, a memoir and informational guide based on her journey with polycystic ovary syndrome. Keshena has a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences degree from Marian University in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. She now works at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX as a CT Tech providing high quality care at the number one Cancer Center in the country. Her passions are self-love, patient care, raising awareness for PCOS, and supporting and encouraging women with PCOS to be fearless and to take control of their lives.

Gabrielle D. Gaston

PCOS Diva/PCOS Challenge Confidence Grant Recipient

Gabrielle D. Gaston is driven by her desire to provide access and empower economically disadvantaged communities. Her professional life allows her to consult largely on non-profit project management and financial well-being. Diagnosed with PCOS in the Fall of 2015, Gabrielle has been an advocate for PCOS awareness, especially for women of color. In the Spring of 2016, she was a recipient of the PCOS Diva/PCOS Challenge Confidence Grant. A proud Atlanta native, Gabrielle currently volunteers and sits on committees of several local non-profits. She holds a B.S. in Economics from Auburn University and Masters in Public Administration from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University.

About PCOS Challenge, Inc.

PCOS Challenge is the largest 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization advancing the cause for women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) serving 40,000 members. We touch the lives of women with PCOS and their supporters each year through television and radio programming, online and offline support groups, and education and awareness initiatives. READ MORE